Pelargonium plant named ‘Fislada’

ABSTRACT

A new  Pelargonium  plant named ‘Fislada,’ particularly distinguished by the large, brilliant purple-pink, double-type flowers, medium sized inflorescences, medium green foliage with good heat tolerance, lobed leaves with distinct zonation, small to medium sized, tight, semi-trailing plant habit, and early and continuously flowering.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Pelargonium peltatum (L.) L'Hérit. ex Ait.

Varietal denomination: ‘Fislada’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new Pelargonium (common name: ivy Geranium) plant, botanically known as Pelargonium peltatum and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘Fislada.’

‘Fislada’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar has large purple-pink, double-type flowers, medium-green, distinctly zoned foliage, and compact, small to medium sized plant habit.

‘Fislada’ originated from a hybridization made in the late summer of 2003 in a controlled breeding program in Hillscheid, Germany. The female parent was the commercial variety ‘Colorcade Coral Pink,’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,563, ‘Balcolcork,’ with salmon-pink to light carmine-red, double flowers, zoned foliage, and about medium sized mounding and trailing plant habit.

The male parent of ‘Fislada’ was the commercial variety ‘Fislina,’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,681, with salmon-pink, double flowers, medium green foliage, distinct leaf zone, and medium to tall, trailing plant habit. ‘Fislada’ has short to medium length of peduncles, while flower stalks of ‘Fislina’ are only initially short, but relatively long under outdoor conditions.

‘Fislada’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in the spring of 2004 in a controlled environment in Galdar, Gran Canaria, Spain.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Fislada’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in the fall of 2004 in a controlled environment in Galdar, Gran Canaria, Spain.

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in February 2005 in Hillscheid, Germany, and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘Fislada’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘Fislada’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar was applied for in Canada on Mar. 30, 2007 and in Germany on Feb. 21, 2007. ‘Fislada’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing of this application.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliage characteristics of ‘Fislada’ with colors being as true as possible with an illustration of this type. The photographic drawing shows a flowering potted plant of the new variety.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The measurements were taken in Hillscheid, Germany, on May 11, 2007 on plants that were growing in a greenhouse. Culture of these plants started in mid February 2007, when rooted cuttings were planted into 12 cm pots, and were pinched once in late February, and grown out at a minimum day/night temperature of (only) 14° C. until mid April, and at higher temperatures thereafter.

-   Color Chart used: Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.)     2001

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe plants grown indoors and outside in Hillscheid, Germany, and in Chatellerault, France. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of the new variety. The combination of these characteristics distinguishes this Pelargonium plant as a new and distinct variety.

-   -   1. Brilliant, purple-pink flower color     -   2. Large, double-type flowers     -   3. Medium sized inflorescences, not very high above the foliage     -   4. Medium green leaves with distinct lobes and distinct zonation     -   5. Healthy foliage with good heat tolerance     -   6. Compact and tight, spreading to semi-trailing plant habit     -   7. Early flowering and floriferous throughout the summer

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY ‘FISLADA’ AND A SIMILAR VARIETIES: ‘Fisrimba’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. ‘Fislada’ ‘Fislina’ (Parent) 12,355) Flower color (RHS) Upper petals Near N57B 52A-B; 58B; Lower petals Between N57B 55A N57C and C Peduncles, 10.8 cm 10.2 cm 12.5 cm length Leaf shape Ivy-shaped with Nearly round, Ivy-shaped, distinct lobes very weak lobes weak to medium lobes Propagation, Better stability of Intermediate with Tendency to shoot tip shoot tip chloro- regard to heat develop nearly cuttings, phyll at high tolerance of shoot white shoot tips quality temperature- tips at high better quality of temperature cuttings ‘Free Cherry ‘Fislamda’ Rose’ (U.S. (U.S. Plant Pat. Plant Pat. No. ‘Fislada’ No.12,225) 12,448) Flower color Near N57B 67A N57B (RHS) Between N57B 67B N57B to N57C and C Petal markings Relatively strong Strong Weak Flower size 5.8 cm 5.3 cm, 4.8 cm No of petals 10-13 over 20 More than 20 Leaf zone Medium Medium Very weak

-   Plant:     -   -   Form, growth and habit.—Well-branched, tight and compact,             spreading to semi-trailing plant habit, small to medium             sized.         -   Plant height.—12.7 cm.         -   Plant height (inflorescence included).—Approximately 18 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—19.3 cm.         -   Plant size at the end of the summer (about 6 months old,             plant spread from base of the main stem to the shoot             tips).—50–60 cm. -   Stem:     -   -   Number of branches.—8.2.         -   Color of stem.—Light green, RHS 143B.         -   Length of stem.—12–16 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.4–0.5 cm at mid portion.         -   Length of internodes.—1–2.5 cm.         -   Texture.—Appears nearly glabrous, sparse short hair. -   Foliage:     -   -   Immature, leaf color, upper surface.—RHS 137D. Lower             surface: RHS 143B.         -   Mature, leaf color, upper surface.—RHS 137C. Lower surface:             RHS 143A.         -   Shape.—Distinctly ivy-shaped, with relatively strong lobes,             leaf blade is not flat, but a little folded, palmate             venation.         -   Base shape.—Cordate, open gap between lowest lobes.         -   Apex shape.—Rounded, lobes with broadly acute tips.         -   Margin.—Mostly entire, single notches may occur.         -   Texture.—Glossy, glabrous.         -   Color of zone.—RHS 166A.         -   Color of veins, upper surface.—RHS 144A, indistinct.         -   Color of veins, lower surface.—RHS 145A, pale green.         -   Petiole color.—Grass-green, RHS 143A.         -   Petiole length.—Approximately 4–6 cm.         -   Diameter of petiole.—2–3 mm.         -   Texture.—Covered with weak pubescence. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Begin of flowering (50% of plants with open flowers).—April             25 (11 weeks old).         -   Duration of flowering.—Continuous flowering throughout the             summer.         -   Type and shape of inflorescence.—An umbel, nearly             semi-spherically shaped.         -   Number of inflorescences per plant.—3–4 at the stated time,             approximately 15–20 in late summer.         -   Number of flowers and buds per inflorescence.—Most often             8–10.         -   Umbel diameter.—9.3 cm.         -   Umbel depth.—6.0 cm.         -   Color of peduncle.—Grass-green, RHS 143B.         -   Length of peduncle.—10.8 cm.         -   Peduncle diameter.—3 mm.         -   Texture.—Appears nearly glabrous, sparse, short hair.         -   Color of pedicel.—Mainly green, RHS 143A, partly brown, RHS             174A.         -   Length of pedicel.—2.3 cm.         -   Diameter of pedical.—1.5 mm.         -   Texture.—Very short pubescence, with a ‘joint’ in the middle             portion. -   Corolla:     -   -   Form.—Zygomorphic, occasionally with a gap between upper and             lower petals.         -   Length of flower.—5.8 cm.         -   Depth of flower.—Approximately 2 cm.         -   Number of petals.—10–13.         -   Color upper petals, upper surface.—Slightly lighter than RHS             N57B, At the base 2 purple veins (RHS 71A) with a pale             purple (RHS 73C) stripe between.         -   Color upper petals, lower surface.—N58B, dull red veins, RHS             53C.         -   Length of upper petals.—3.3–3.5 cm.         -   Width of upper petals.—2.2–2.5 cm.         -   Color lower petals, upper surface.—Between RHS N57B and 57C,             no markings.         -   Color lower petals, lower surface.—N58B.         -   Length of lower petals.—2.9–3.2 cm.         -   Width of lower petals.—2.0–2.2 cm.         -   Petal shape.—Obovate.         -   Apex shape.—Rounded.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Petal texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Number of petaloids.—1–3, shorter and narrower than the             petals.         -   Color of petaloids.—RHS N57B to N57C. -   Bud (just before opening):     -   -   Color.—RHS 58B.         -   Length.—26 mm.         -   Width.—12 mm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic. -   Calyx:     -   -   Number of sepals.—5.         -   Color of sepals.—Mainly RHS 143B, largest sepal RHS 146B.         -   Length of sepals.—14–17 mm.         -   Width of sepals.—7 mm for the largest sepal, 4 to 5 mm for             the other ones.         -   Sepal shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex shape.—Acute, pointed.         -   Margins.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Sparse hair, relatively long, fine hairs. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Pistil.—One.         -   Length.—9–11 mm.         -   Style color.—Whitish, RHS 69D.         -   Style length.—4–5 mm.         -   Stigma color.—RHS 53C, reddish.         -   Number of anthers.—Up to 10.         -   Length of anthers.—2 mm.         -   Anther color.—RHS 54A, pink.         -   Length of filaments.—9–10 mm.         -   Color of filaments.—White, RHS 155A.         -   Pollen amount.—Moderate.         -   Color of pollen.—Orange, RHS 22A.         -   Fertility/seed set.—No seed set observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Disease resistance or susceptibility has     not been observed on this hybrid. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Pelargonium plant named ‘Fislada,’ substantially as illustrated and described herein. 